Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-10-21
GOV. LONGS GRAFTON

gratefully acknowledge your courtesy Yer
mont officers OF Ia, Mon army. IN inviting me IA
clNlllIu To- speak Tor you AT tins your 2ith annual
reunion. should shrink from the task did not
know that Ia So doing l. a civilian, pay to YOU the
soldiers Of the Union, something Of the tribute,
which the republic owes it, defenders Thrse aft
sacred anniversaries, ami walk with bowed head
In your presence. as / enter u temple They real
ne l-hdy mon dream Of eternal youth. The time
viii indeed spuu come when few viii remain to re-.
unite, aud when tho last survivor will shoulder his
crutch no more But the service you did. the sar-
rlllrcs uH ana your comrades made. the examples
81 herulsiu ana patriotism you have left fur tn,
education Of coming generations. are immortal
anu will forever iiluulut the world a. the stars
though speeding So far from US that the eye sr-s
NOT the yapur that eushruuds them ct shine Their.
m purer and eternal glory. As the contact Of
electric wires bursts into flash of light So from
the clasp Of your hands IN these reunions springs
again Tue dawn oI your youth that glowing and
flushed youth which you cons-CrAted to the tlag
Of the Union The day, whatever the season. h..
come, tlug,'d al once with the exquisit. flush of
Fastening JAM aud sweet with the bursting ira
Crane pf ltr rp-t~ The wheels Of time roll back
ana lu. Abraham Lincoln wise and patient and
tender ana true, Is al the Nation helm, the North
Is one broad hlu1-. the boys in blue arr marching
To the front, the life and drum are on every
nrrtAr llAJ the hretn Mountains send 10 the sea;
inc very ar j. the incense OF patriotism Phil
ShcrldAh' ~ mites away, dashes back 20 turn de
feat into victory Farrugut, dashed To the mast
hrad. Is stramllg into Mobile. harbor. Stannari
crppits the rvhel Wing and saves the day AT Crttys
burg, Thomas is the rock Of Chickamauga Han
cock the superb rides down the line and leads tn,
charge the nNafl IAc- uI Logan ElUWS ike a
lame; Hooker Is above the clOuds-aye, now for
ever above the clouds Sherman marches through
Georgia 10 thr sea- Grant mas thruttlrd Lee with
the grip that never let, go either its duty or it,
maguaullulty. Richmond falls and ''tht. nluu.
r7tilspliter walks lis streets his little son lrl by
MS hahd and IA poor slave woman anuuts his
ltrt with All SHE hath-hrr kisses and her tears
The armies OF the republic pass Ia that last great
review at Washington. Clusters plume is their,
hut hearney s saddle is empty. And now once
more our veterans come marching home to re-
ceiNe the welcome OF a grateful people and u
stack the lattered flags which the republic forever
hence shall wear above her heart
All II poetry, II sentiment. II patriotism 10.
any tulus M Inc Ideals and character OF a people
II Is not lost hour that gathers you together a.
recall, not more Tor the pathos Of your own hearts
imam luF the inspiration ut advancing generations,
The ROMANCE. the reality, the glory. the sacrifice
OF the knisntiy soldier Of 1861. A. II it were but
yesterday, you recall hiu. he had but turned
twenty. The exquisite tint OF youthful health
was ON his cheek; his pure ncart shune from frank
outsprakns eyes; his far hair clustered from b..
htath ms cap lie had pulled stout oar la the
college race, or walked the most graceful athlete
on tlr village green. lie Was Just entering un
lht vocation OF his life. The doorway Of his home
was brilliant IN thr drWy morn with the Chamber
ing vine and fragrant flower, as in and out he
went, Inc beloved Of mother and sister and the
ideal OF an American youth.
In face aud shoulders like "A god Lr WINS
For Ger him had the goddess breathed the
charm
of youthful locks, the ruddy glow OF youth,
4 generous Elauuess Ia his eyes, such grace
As CarNer's hand tl ivory gives or when
Silver or farlan-stuue Ia yellow gold Is set
The unreckoned Influence of the great discus.
slons ui human rights had insensibly moulded him
INTO champion OF freedom. He had passed no
suuIaIy ana slcrplrss night, watching the aruur
Whlch he was 70 wear when dubbed next day with
the aceoladr Of knghthuod; but over the stu.
drul lamp or by thr nrrsdr's bazt. he had mass
ed the uubler uOvtiate of heart aud mind train.
ed 10 "a nnv sense OF justice and 10 a resolution
equal % the sacrifice Of life itself for right and
duty. lie knew nothing OF the web and wOof of
politics. but ne knew instiuutiyey tine needs of
nus country. dis ideal was Philip Sidney not Ma.
puleoni ana when the drum beat when the hrst
martyr blood sprinklrd the stones Of BAtimUr-
hr TOOK MS place IN the rauGs and went forward
on remember his Ingenious and glowing letters
70 ms mother, written as II his pen werr dipped M
MS very hrart. How novel seemed 70 him the
routine OF service, the life OF camp and march
How eager ms " ish "a meet the enemy and strlk,.
MS INST good blow for the good caus.., What
pridr al the promotion that came and lut m.
chrNiln on his arm or the strap upon MS snoul-
der How graphically he described his sensation
IA the INST buttle-tht paur that be felt creeping
up MS lace, the thrill along every nerve aud tho
utter tearlessnrss when once the charge began
aud his blood was up. Later ON. how grat+flllv
OF the box from home OF the generous distribu.
uun OF delieacirs that loving ones had sent and
OF The neNet-tu forgotten comfort Of the gentle
hlf0c, WHO'S eyes and hands sreIued 10 bring "a
ms colsidr The summer freshness and health of
the open windows Of his aid her Vermont home.
Stead between Mount Mansfield and the Connect
CUT No Amazon was Size, with cullOus half breast
hul hef Mholr womans heart was devoted a.
were the hearts of all hrr sisters at the North h.
tightening the hurdships and pain of war IN
her praise never Tail % minglr with the soldiers
liluutc, nor her abilities bt- bettled in n hand D.,